YakFishWest

Archive for the ‘Kayak Rigging’ Category

This is the first and easiest of a few changes I am making as part of Rig to flip and dress to swim. I have attempted to hang my tackle box in the centre well previously but it didn’t work very well. The hooks that were attached to the box and got in the way of opening and closing box and hooked onto everything and anything when the tray was taken out.

I took to the wire with the pliers again and came up with a new more simple and effective design. One that won’t get broken and won’t get in the way of opening the tray. Now my tackle will be stored safely and out of the way. I can still use the rest of the well for other things.

Cheers,

Swamp

The Stealth Kayaks have really captured my imagination since first seeing one in the flesh last year. I love the idea of a kayak that can handle surf conditions, with ease, one that’s designed to feel at home there. We in Australia have endless surf beaches, and with that in mind, i have kept my eye out, and finally one has come along at the right price, so i pounced.

Really since coming to the sport i have ony ever pedalled my fishing kayak, now i can experience other aspects of the sport, and get some strength into my paddling shoulders, and chase some Tailor and Whiting of the Surf beaches! I will report on my experiences!

Stealth Supalight X

As you might have seen my first yak was a funny little thing called a Condor Junior Fisher. I purchased this yak with out knowing anything about kayaks or kayak fishing. I had used my uncles Condor to fish a couple times before and had a great time. Basically the junior fisher was the cheapest yak I could find already kitted out for fishing.

My first ride

Two rod holders, a centre well for some gear, a side hatch with a dry bag for valuables and a drink bottle holder. The little Condor had everything required for bream fishing with soft plastics in sheltered waters. I could easily handle it by myself and even fitted it inside my car (Not recommended).

Condor and bream, a perfect combination

The Condor was short and manoeuvrable, perfect for fishing tight amongst the pontoons in West Lakes. Upon hooking a fish I would twist myself around to bring the kayak between my line and structure. The rubber edging on the yak allowed me to collide with the pontoons no worries and attempt to extract the bream from their lair. I imagine it would have been quite funny to watch me trying to pull a bream.

One of many West Lakes bream

I had some fantastic sessions in the lake with cricket scores of bream including 40cm + specimens.

For all its attributes the condor had some serious limitations. It was a craft for flat water only, the shape of the bow meant it ploughed straight through any sort of wave action. Even a bit of wind chop on the lake would leave me soaked at the end of a session. The nose would simply dig in if you tried to ride any swell. The limited storage space was restricting my options.

In Early 2008 I decided I had out grown the condor and it was time to upgrade. I had the bug bad and bream fishing just wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to fish out in the big blue ocean…

Cheers

Swamp

I have just fitted the 1.5sq/m sail to my  Hobie Adventure, in the blue/yellow colouring (Go West Coast!!). Huge thanks to the guys at PA for there help, especially resending the sail free of charge after i forgot some crucial mailing info and it was returned.

Stainless Steel mounts for the mast straps.

Eyelets for the ropes, leaves the deck uncluttered.

I chose this type of sail over the standard Hobie sail for a few reasons. The Hobie sail in a strong breeze, with it’s more conventional mast and sheet arrangement really pushes the yak over, trying to tip it. The mast is quite high and really gives it a decent leaver to tip you! The rear sheet also travels straight to the extreme rear of the yak, and it means i cant use my rocket launcher setup, or have rods standing up in the back, as it would clash. And lastly, the storage when its not being used is a pain, as its too tall to leave up, as you couldnt lift your line over it. On the side of the yak is a pain too, as its long, and on the narrow Adventure, just too space consuming.

These are a well designed sail, beautifully made, with solid fiberglass 3 piece masts, and all the fittings and ropes, cords and bungies that you will need, supplied. The instructions aren’t the easiest to follow, but there are really only small variations on how it can be fitted.

I set mine up a little differently to the instructions, firstly i found some stainless fixing points which i used on my old hull to strap my catch bag down, these were perfect for the front fixing points, stronger than the plastic ones supplied. The reports on AKFF state the supplied ones were a bit weak, so i thought i’d fix that problem straight away. They are made by Riley, and should be available thru your local marine chandelry store. In my case, the store on Carrington St had them.

Ronstan V-Cleats mounted on the Scotty Mounts.

I then ran the ropes straight back along the top of the deck, clearing the Paddle and Anchor trolley, and thru some more stainless eyes. I like my stainless steel gear!! The ropes here remain uncluttered on the deck, even with the sail up. They don’t interfere with pedalling at all, and in the cockpit, i just stow the excess rope in the sidepockets. Will probably trim it later, when i have a better idea how much i need to keep.

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